Handling the Subjacent Complexity of a Resocialization Program for Inmates: A Systemic Analysis and Leverage Points
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Methodology: Systemic Methods and Techniques
Systemic Structures and Methodology
- Interviews with the staff of SUSEPE/RS and consultation with official websites, which resulted in a list of key systemic events and five guiding questions (GQ);
- Survey with 145 sampled respondents;
- Construction of the systemic structures;
- Derivation of potential leverage points; and
- Final feedback meeting with the staff of SUSEPE/RS.
4. Results: The Artifact
4.1. Key Events, Variables, and Guiding Questions
- Customers (C) benefit or suffer from the system. In this case, the population is the customer. Events and variables that may somehow reflect on the population’s quality of life are C;
- Actors (A) can transform the system. In this case, law and order forces are the actors;
- Transformation (T) embraces bifurcation points, decisions that change processes. In this case, T includes the events that influenced the system;
- W (Weltanschauung, a German jargon meaning worldview) includes beliefs that justify the relevance of a transformation;
- The owner (O) refers to entities that drive or hinder transformation. Creating W and exercising O are prerogatives of the democratically elected local government; and
- Environment (E) refers to external elements relevant to the system [35].
4.2. The Systemic Structure of the Problem
4.3. Synthesized Map and Leverage Points
4.4. Mental Models: Beliefs That Shape the System
4.5. Final Meeting: Polishing the Artifact
5. Final Remarks
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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CATWOE | Period | Relevant Events in RS | Event-Related Variables |
---|---|---|---|
C | 2006–2016 | 70% increase in the homicide rate. | Quality of life |
2010–2016 | 128% increase in robberies. | Unsafety perception | |
2011–2017 | 56% reduction in escapes of prisoners in the border state of SC. | Unemployment Social inequality | |
A | 2015 | Elimination of overtime, wages delays, and installment. | Police satisfaction at work Deficit of police officers |
2016 | Significant decrease in the police force. | Hiring new police officers Retirement of police officers | |
T | 2016 | A new prison house inaugurated with a humanitarian proposal. | Vacancies in recently built prisons |
2018 | Agreement to build another new prison house. | Investment in public security, health, and education for vulnerable populations | |
W/O | 2019 | UN agency presents suggestions for preventive actions and the use of police force. | Preventive public security actions Available prison work vacancies |
2019 | Transversal security program (prevention, qualification of police repression, punishment, and rehabilitation). | Available prison study vacancies | |
E | 2006–2016 | Brazilian prison population increased from 401 thousand inmates to more than 726 thousand in 10 years. | Percentage of inmates that study Percentage of inmates that work Percentage of overcrowding of prison houses Crime rate Recidivism rate The absolute number of inmates |
2018 | RS prison system is 43% above capacity. | ||
2016–2026 | Estimated prison population growth of 8.30% per year, reaching 1.5 million in 2026. |
Tag | Question |
---|---|
GQ1 | What kind of impact may be expected from the resocialization program driven by prison labor programs? |
GQ2 | Which factors cause the insecurity perception in the population? |
GQ3 | How can the government tackle recidivism? |
GQ4 | How can resocialization programs influence criminality? |
GQ5 | Overall question: How to leverage the positive impacts of prison work and study programs? |
Quotes | Related Variables |
---|---|
“The lack of security is primarily responsible for inhibiting the development of RS, limiting local competitiveness”. “Entrepreneurs fear for their security, which directly reflects on the attractiveness of RS to new investors and talents”. | Private investment attractiveness Perception of insecurity Competitiveness New companies Job vacancies |
Quotes | Related Variables |
---|---|
A larger contingent of police officers Fair and up-to-date wages for police officers Implementation of the Education Culture Severe sentencing for heinous crimes More health, safety, and education | Impunity Insecurity Criminality Deficit of officers Fear of occupying public spaces, mainly at night Investments in safety, health, and education |
Quotes | Related Variables |
---|---|
Insufficiency of funds prevents public and social investments Unemployment and inequality reinforce criminality Overcrowding prevents work and study in prison houses | Funds deficit Crime rate Overcrowding Deficit of officers Delay and installment of wages Investments in safety, health, and education |
Quotes | Related Variables |
---|---|
Studies help in finding a job vacancy Inmates who work are more likely to continue working after a sentence Agreements with companies and municipalities provide extra funds About 67% of people don’t believe in the resocialization of former convicts Ordinary people are skeptical regarding convicts’ resocialization | Agreements for study and job vacancies Recidivism Inmates skilled People’s sympathy for resocialization |
Actor | Mental Model |
---|---|
Inmates | ‘This is my best chance to never go back to jail.’ ‘I can help my family too.’ ‘It is hard for an ex-convict to find a new chance.’ |
Citizenship | ‘Criminals don’t deserve my taxes.’ ‘Police officers should be more valued.’ ‘It is difficult to see police vehicles in the neighborhoods and streets.’ ‘Leaving the house and occupying public spaces at night is risky.’ |
Staff | ‘Citizenship does not understand our efforts and does not accept our goals.’ ‘With formal agreements, it is easier to work.’ ‘With insufficient funds, it is impossible to maintain re-socialization programs.’ |
Entrepreneurs | ‘I should look for a safer place for my company.’ ‘My staff doesn’t like interacting with inmates.’ ‘The indicators of SC State are interesting.’ ‘Tax exemptions are advantageous.’ |
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Almeida, F.B.d.; Morandi, M.I.; Moreira, W.A.; Buzuku, S.; Sellitto, M.A. Handling the Subjacent Complexity of a Resocialization Program for Inmates: A Systemic Analysis and Leverage Points. J. Open Innov. Technol. Mark. Complex. 2022, 8, 115. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc8030115
Almeida FBd, Morandi MI, Moreira WA, Buzuku S, Sellitto MA. Handling the Subjacent Complexity of a Resocialization Program for Inmates: A Systemic Analysis and Leverage Points. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity. 2022; 8(3):115. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc8030115
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlmeida, Fernanda Bica de, Maria Isabel Morandi, Wislayne Aires Moreira, Shqipe Buzuku, and Miguel Afonso Sellitto. 2022. "Handling the Subjacent Complexity of a Resocialization Program for Inmates: A Systemic Analysis and Leverage Points" Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity 8, no. 3: 115. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc8030115